Saturday, April 5, 2014

Bayambang captures Guinness for longest barbecue grill

BAYAMBANG— What better way to celebrate a town's 400th founding year than by making another history?

This third district town Bayambang, has made another history as it triumphed in its attempt to get the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for longest barbecue grill.

Last April 4, the historic town through its Kalutan ed Dalan- the main event of its Malangsi Fishtival (freshwater fish festival) and the 434th Agew na Pangasinan (Pangasinan Day) toppled the previous longest grill 6.166-kilometer record set by Turkey in 2009.

"This will be a historical moment now for Bayambang, because I have the honor to announce a new record holder for longest barbecue grill with exactly 8.016 kilometers," thus announced event's official adjudicator from the Guinness in United Kingdom, Seyda Subasi, shortly after the three-hour grill.

"Binabati ko kayong lahat," she even remarked in Filipino as she commended the 'teamwork' among all people.

Around half a million people from within and outside Pangasinan joined and witnessed the roasting of around 60,000 kilograms of freshwater fishes, mainly tilapia, in 10 barangays namely Wawa, Telbang, Buayaen, Poblacion, Zone III, Zone V, Tamaro, Tambac, Nalsian Norte and Nalsian Sur.

50,000 kilograms of the fishes were provided by the provincial government of Pangasinan while the remaining 10,000 kilograms were from the municipal government of Bayambang.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., who led the ceremonial lighting of the about eight-kilometer long grill congratulated the town and said that such feat is also for the province and for he country.

He also vowed that the provincial government will likewise support other towns if they wish to pursue the same endeavor as what Bayambang did.

Meanwhile, town mayor Ricardo Camacho expressed his happiness and gratitude over the new milestone their municipality has achieved.

As history declares, Bayambang which has 77 barangays, was founded as a town by the Spaniards on April 5, 1614. It was then declared by General Emilio Aguinaldo as the seat of the fifth capital of the short-lived Philippine Republic in 1899.